Superintendents face ‘alarming’ mental health issues because of workload – claim

Senior police leaders are facing an “alarming” mental health crisis because of increased workloads amid calls for a pay increase, a conference will be told.

The president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents (ASPS), Rob Hay, will urge greater investment from the Scottish Government amid inflationary pressures and demand on the police service, when he addresses the organisation’s conference on Wednesday.

Police Scotland Chief Constable Jo Farrell and Scottish Justice Secretary Angela Constance are among those due to attend the conference in Cumbernauld, North Lanarkshire.

Mr Hay will tell the conference that since Police Scotland was established in 2013, the number of officers at superintendent and chief superintendent rank has reduced by a third.

He cited an “alarming rise” in the numbers of ASPS members suffering from mental health issues because of increasing workloads and scrutiny.

He said Police Scotland has seen an 85% increase in four years in sickness absence for psychological illness and injury as he called for technology to keep track of rest, such as introducing an app to record duty hours.

A recent ASPS survey found 27% of respondents think the demand in their role is manageable, and 31% believe that Police Scotland’s executive actively supports them in their role.

The survey also found 66.7% of respondents believed there was an increased frequency of on-call, and zero respondents thought the current compensation for on-call is fair.

Mr Hay said: “Given the over-reliance on on-call to provide essential functions, and the uncomfortable reality that it is a voluntary duty, not covered by the Police Regulations, this is a clear message and a challenge to the police service and Government.

“Colleagues have already spoken to me of superintendents voting with their feet and deselecting themselves from on-call duties.”

Mr Hay said superintendents must be given “the time, the tools and the support to ensure we are creating a positive working environment that lets people deliver their absolute best”.

He added: “Technology could help in this space. It could tell line managers when compensatory rest is due, when rest day banks start to exceed limits and, at workforce planning level, give an indication as to how far away resourcing is from actually having enough people to do the work.”

Mr Hay said: “Talks of a record policing budget don’t account for inflationary pressures, and the policing budget has not kept pace with the demands on the service.

“The chief constable has spoken about the dilemma she faces in this year’s pay negotiation. Without assistance from the Scottish Government, the chief faces the stark choice of cannibalising the service to afford to offer a pay rise that is above inflation.

“Simply put: reduce police numbers or reduce pay. This is a choice no chief constable should have to make.

“We look back at 2013, at the birth of Police Scotland, almost every pay point, at every rank is worth less now in real terms.

“And we look at professions in the public sector, whose pay growth has outstripped policing by 13% and even higher in some cases.”

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr called for the Scottish Government to take urgent action.

He said: “This damning warning from senior police officers exposes the SNP’s systemic failure to properly support the force.

“It is shameful that it has reached a stage where cannibalising police services is now being openly talked about just so there is any possibility of rewarding dedicated officers.”

Justice Secretary Angela Constance said: “We are investing a record £1.64 billion for policing this year and our continued investment has enabled Police Scotland to take on more recruits in the last financial year than at any time since 2013, with further intakes planned throughout 2025.

“Scotland continues to have more police officers per capita than England and Wales, and Scottish police officers have consistently been the best paid in the UK, at the minimum and maximum of each rank.

“Scotland continues to be a safe place to live, with recorded crime down 40% since 2006-07.

“By choosing to fund less than half of the estimated cost of its employer national insurance increase, the UK Government has left Scotland’s public services, including Police Scotland, with a total bill running into hundreds of millions of pounds. We continue to urge UK ministers to reconsider.”

Police Scotland chief constable Jo Farrell said: “The superintending ranks have a key leadership role in the next phase of reform to build a sustainable policing model that delivers safer communities, less crime, supported victims, and a thriving workforce, with a focus on supporting our front line to serve the public.

“I’ll thank them for their significant contribution, professionalism and skill at their conference.”